Astrid Southam
Post doctoral researcher, Advanced Fibers Group · Empa
Biography
I was born and raised in Geneva, Switzerland, where I attended school until the end of collège (high school) in 2013. I then pursued an undergraduate Master's degree in Chemistry at the University of Nottingham. During my third of four years I spent an integrated year at the University of Hong Kong, before returning to the UK for my final year. In 2017 I started a DPhil (PhD) in Physical and Theoretical Chemistry at the University of Oxford. I graduated in 2023 and started post-doctoral research at Empa in St. Gallen, Switzerland. I am specialised in surface force measurements, and more particularly in the surface force apparatus (also known as the surface force balance). My current work pertains to understanding near-surface forces on thin plasma polymer films.
Education
DPhil Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Oxford, 2017-2023 Undergraduate MSci Chemistry, University of Nottingham, 2013-2017 Maturité cantonale, Collège Jean Calvin, 2009-2013
Recent Scopus Publications
- Potential and Challenges to Replace PFAS Coatings Considering Safe and Sustainable by Design Aspects: Review and Perspectives
- Hydrophilic nano-porous model surfaces suitable for direct force measurements
- Integrated accuracy enhancement for the Fabry-Pérot interferometer: The multi-parameter approach series (MPAS)
- The surface force balance: direct measurement of interactions in fluids and soft matter
- A 3-mirror surface force balance for the investigation of fluids confined to nanoscale films between two ultra-smooth polarizable electrodes
Links
- ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5595-8772
- Google Scholar https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=5d3zCooAAAAJ
- Scopus https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57205079917